9-Iron are the creature of singer songwriter Will Baum, a Los Angeles kid
and a former Love Child,
who sings about his generation's woes with a penchant for self-reflection
that recalls Jonathan Richman.
The difference is that 9-Iron (Safe House, 1993) boasts impeccable
arrangements and driving rhythms
(Movie Tonight, Girl From 911, The Girl Won't Listen,
Met Her Online).

Baum matured with the concept album Make-out King (Safe House, 1995),
that pays tribute to the tradition with charm and passion.
Theoretical Mind treads water between Los Angeles' power-pop school
(Toad The Wet Sprocket,
Beat,
Last,
Plimsouls)
and English vaudeville as represented by the Kinks.
Dr Dr could be a leftover from the Who's Tommy.
Girl With The Choker sounds like
Elvis Costello
fronting the Modern Lovers.
More serious fare like This Town Again leans towards the blue-collar rock
of Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp, but still with youthful exuberance.